Finished up Path of Daggers and am starting Winter's Heart or as I think of it "Perrin and the Subplot of DOOM."

In rereading the series, I'm surprised at how much I like Galad. Yeah, he's kinda an ass, but he's refreshing. With hime there's no moanig over the opposite sex, heck, with him there's no whining at all. You always know what to expect with Galad.

Elayne's thoughts on Galad skew him quite a bit at first. Then even she admits he's not so bad, just terribly correct and 'noble.' I didn't notice that about him before you pointed it out!

Spoiler(Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content)Show SpoilerHide Spoiler

I think that may be a reason why he's so good for Egwene. She doesn't overuse the "men!" complaints like Nynaeve is wont to do, but she also has a very hot demeanor. He grounds her...and she gives him a bit more flexibility

I just finished Dragon Reborn and Mat's enthusiasm and curiosity is so childlike that coupled with his, mmm...inappropriate thoughts and words, it makes him a very fun character to read. He also has the best quotes. I have over 20 (I didn't count) favourite quotes/sayings from the book and most are from Mat.

“Women are odd, but Aiel women make odd seem normal!” – page 668 (PB)

I definitely love reading him now that he's out of the influence of the dagger, and his usual snarky self.

(Do we still need to put up spoiler alerts for the first few books?)

Spoiler(Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content)Show SpoilerHide Spoiler

The depression and chaos throughout the cities and neighboring towns sets the tone very well. This is a world-wide issue that all citizens are dealing with. There's inflation, famine, and crazy weather. It's a great foreshadowing of what is yet to come.

I have a theory as to why Perrin's story turns out quite a bit different than Rand's & Mat's. Let me know what you think.

Spoiler(Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content)Show SpoilerHide Spoiler

In The Shadow Rising, Mat is still not ready to accept the fact that Rand (and he and Perrin) are ta'varen & therefore affect each other in various ways. Perrin accepts that almost from the start. So when news of the Two Rivers being overrun by Whitecloaks reaches them, Perrin talks to Rand about it, and they agree that Perrin should go to their families. Perrin feels the pull to be with Rand, but Rand essentially gives permission to stretch that bond as far as it can do. Mat is unwilling to do that, and the pull is so strong, he can't even think about leaving.

All of their stories are quite different, but I seem to recall Mat's and Rand's paralleling each other more than Perrin's and the other's. Couple that with Perrin's 'other' mind of the wolves, which is stronger than what Mat channels, and Perrin's fate changes.

To be fair, Elaida was his mother's advisor for a long time. He trusted her.

Spoiler(Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content)Show SpoilerHide Spoiler

I totally did not remember that about Rand! I know Galad--and Elayne and Gawyn--are Moiraine's neice and nephews, since their father, Taringail Damodred, was her brother, but I don't recall it ever really being talked about. Though I don't suppose they really know each other.

Yeah, Galad's the one who always does what's right. He's Elayne's half-brother

Spoiler(Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content)Show SpoilerHide Spoiler

(Rand's half-brother too if I have my family trees correct.)

Gawyn's her full brother and he's not bad either--he and Egwene have one of the better developed relationships--but I can't get over his supporting of Elaida.

I forgot....because at first Egwene's all googly-eyed for Galad. Always liked Gawyn more

*blinks* wow, I...I don't think I EVER caught that (regarding the family trees). So that would be via mother then? Because otherwise....EWW.
I'm so crap at relationships. And then you get the Aiel's sister-mother, sister-wife, etc and my mind goes wonky.

Spoiler(Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content)Show SpoilerHide Spoiler

Rand knows I think, though he hasn't thought any on it. When he learns from the Aiel about his mother, he seems to put two and two together. Once he takes Andor, he questions one of the nobles pretty extensively about ancestry and house connections to make sure he isn't related to Elayne.

And they did meet in the first book, before they knew the truth. Galad called the palace guard on him!

I think Rand figured it out way back in either The Shadow Rising or The Fires of Heaven which always made me think they would have that moment together but now that there is only one book left I'm not going to get my hopes up for it.

I think Rand figured it out way back in either The Shadow Rising or The Fires of Heaven which always made me think they would have that moment together but now that there is only one book left I'm not going to get my hopes up for it.

It seems like he begins to suspect in TSR, after he learns of the Aiel history. I'm not finished with it, but I'm trying to keep an eye out for such things now.

The climax was pretty good, and I did enjoy Elayne and Aviendha's bonding at the beginning of the book. I actually found the ending line of "Light! She had found her sister!" to be pretty powerful..I actually found it easier to get through this time around. I don't know if it's because I didn't wait years for it to come out then have to wait years more to resolve all the plot lines started in Book 8. Or maybe it's just because since I firste read WoT, I've suffered through the entire Sword of Truth series (also full of books where nothing happened, but with bad characters, plots and dialogue as well) and read A Dance of Dragons. Dany's political plot lines make Elayne's seem lightning fast.